from Harness Publicists across North America

Saturday’s (Feb. 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Yonkers Raceway, Buffalo Raceway and Cal-Expo.

Dave Ain’t Here wins Open Handicap at Yonkers

Yonkers, NY — The Saints may no longer be the Aint’s, but Dave Ain’t Here (Jim Pantaleano) continues to carry the torch for the grammatically incorrect.

“Dave,” shown no love after last week’s Open Handicap Pace win, defended his Yonkers Raceway title Saturday night in a last-to-first effort.

Dave Ain’t Here, going wide from third-over defeated Next Adventure by 2-3/4 expanding lengths in 1:55. Southwind Tabor (Ryan Anderson), Dragon King (Jeff Gregory) and Keystone Rideau (Stephane Bouchard) completed the cashers.

For Dave Ain’t Here, a 9-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he paid $42.80 (fifth choice) for his third win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $207, with the triple returning $859.

— Frank Drucker

The “Niatross” Series Begins

Hamburg, NY — Eight divisions of the Niatross Series began here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night, for horses that have started for a base claiming price of $4,000 or less from 6/1/2009 to and including 1/23/2010.

In this first leg, the purses were worth $4,000, and to claim a horse, it cost an owner $5,000. In each leg, the purses and the claiming price goes up $1,000. There were four claims on the night, with two more legs to be contested before the $20,000 final on Saturday Feb. 27.

The field of 64 will be cut down to 32, which will be four races next Saturday Feb. 13, with a purse of $5,000. To claim a horse next Saturday, it will cost $6,000.

The winner’s Saturday night were:

– Rhino ($9.40) and driver Ray Fisher, Jr., for trainer Jim Graham.
– The 13-year-old Gehrig, ($3.40) with reinsman Jim McNeight, who is nearing the $1 million mark in earnings.
– Trainer Brenda Ohol’s Wawanosh Trail ($4.90) won with driver Ken Holliday aboard for the Nickel City Ranch.
– Holliday Racing’s Long Beach Tea ($8.00) for trainer Sheri Holliday with husband Ken in the bike.
– Full Of Speed ($5.30) a one length winner in 2:01.1 for reinsman Ray Fisher, Jr.
– Sandra Beback’s HF Velma ($4.10) won with husband Ron in the sulky.
– Clear For Flight ($39.20) in 1:59, which was the fastest winner of the night, for owner-trainer Laurie Patistas, and river Jimmy Whisman.
– Encil, ($10.20) for trainer Sue Stockwell and driver Tom Agosti. Encil was the only winner that was claimed.

— Sam Pendolino

Frankyluvsmeatbals is super at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Open Handicap pacers, racing for a purse of $6,100 over a track listed as ‘good,’ were featured at Cal-Expo on Saturday night (February 6), on which Frankyluvsmeatbals repeated.

Owned by Maryann Plano and trained by Rick Plano, Frankyluvsmeatbals won ($4.20) by 3-1/4-lengths, in an excellent 1:53.2 for conditions. Pacific Admiral (James Kennedy) was a fast closing second, and Keystone Eli finished just a head back, in third.

— by Scott Ehrlich